One pleads guilty in Clayton arson

Thursday

Sep 20, 2012 at 3:00 PM

By Daily Telegram staff

ADRIAN — A Clayton man admitted he started a fire that destroyed a vacant house in the village on July 10. Three other suspects waived arraignment on arson charges Wednesday in Lenawee County Circuit Court.

Shequille Albert Sheffield, 19, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of arson of real property. He remains in jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond while awaiting sentencing on Nov. 14.

Sheffield has said the idea for setting the fire came up in a conversation with the three other Clayton men that night. He told Judge Timothy P. Pickard he went into the vacant house on West Street and was the one who started a fire inside kitchen cabinets.

The fire spread through the house before Clayton firefighters arrived. It was listed as a total loss.

Defense attorney Dawn VanDusen of Adrian said Sheffield has apologized for the fire and has shown sincere regret for what happened.

Sheffield faces up to a 10-year prison term when he is sentenced on the reduced count. The original charge of arson of a dwelling carries a maximum 20-year sentence.

The three other suspects face conspiracy or aiding and abetting charges.

Christopher James Beaubien, 30, is to be scheduled for trial before Judge Margaret M.S. Noe on a conspiracy charge. Dylan Matthew Scott, 20, most recently of Hamler, Ohio, was scheduled for an Oct. 17 hearing before Noe, also on a conspiracy count. Michael Andrew Luft, 22, was scheduled by Pickard for trial on Nov. 29 on a charge of aiding and abetting arson.

Bonds remain at $50,000 for the three. Beaubien is also serving a one-year jail term he received in district court on Aug. 27 for a reduced marijuana possession conviction.